Combined helmet and parachute for aviators&#39; use



S. D. MOTT.

COMBINED HELMET AND PAR ACHUTE FOR AVIATORS' USE. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 1a. 1918.

' 1,330,274. Patented Feb. 10,1920.

6 SHEETSSHEEI I.

A TTORNEYS I I s. D. MOTT. I COMBINED HELMET AND PA-RACHUTE FOR AVIATORS USE.

' APPLICATION FILED JAN. 8| 1918- 1 330274. Patented Feb. 10,1920.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 2- IN VE/V TOR A 7TORNEY8 s. D. MOTT. COMBINED HELMET'AND PARACHUTE FOR AVIATORS' USE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN-[8.1918- 6 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

8 Y I '7 r/dafir 4 4 NORA/5Y8 Pater [ted Feb. 10,1920.

S. D. MOTT. comsmeu HELMET AND PARACHUTE FOR AVIATORS usE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN- 18. I918- 1,330,274. V Patented Feb. 10,1920.

ffikj %ENTOR I S. D. MOTT.

COMBINED HELMET AND PARACHUTE FOR AVIAIORS USE.

' APPLICATION FILED JAN. la. I918- 1,330,274. Patented Feb. 10, 1920. I

6 SHEETS-SHEEI 5. 26

A TTOR/VEYS S. D. MOTT.

COMBINED HELMET AND PARACHUTE .FOR AVIATOBS' USE. APPLICATION FILED JAN. I8. 1918.

1,330,274. Patented Feb. 10,1920.

6 SHEETS-SHE 6.

' mmvrog ATTORNEYS sam'unr. n. More. or ressuc, new, JERSEY.

comamnn HELMET AND- rmcnurn ron. Avm'roas use;

speciflcation'ot Iletters Patent."

Patented Feb. 10, 1920.

Application filed January 18, 1918. 4' Serial No. 212,511.

To all whom it may concern:

- it may 1 3e a known that I, smear. 11.11 m, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Passaic,'in the county of Passaic and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combined Helmets and Parachutes for of which the following is a specification.

1 My invention relates to parachutes designed for use by aviators and more particu-- larly to the manner of folding or arrangmgr the' fabric or umbrella portion of the same to adapt it to be readily carried by the aviator either as a or otherwise and in such manner thatthe parachute may be readily released in case of emergency and so that it will assume immediately effective position for checking the descent of the user.

A further object is to so construct or arrange the device that it may. be essentially a part of the head covering or helmet worn by the aviator. L One part of my invention consists essen tially of a parachute the fabric portion of.

which is rolled or folded andthen coiled y may into the substantial form'v of a turban so that p be worn or applied as a turban either directly cap as will be described. 1

form, said means adapt The invention further in the combination with the helmet'of meansfor tem- 'porarily securing the fabric portion of the parachute carried thereby in its foldedbeing adapted to be readily released by the user in case .of cine!- gency.

The having its fabric in a form adaptingi by the aviator an invention consists also of a parachute it to be 'readil carried combined wit an expanding strip or device inco rated therein andadapted to unroll f or un old it'fwhenre leased.

The invention further consists of aparachute having\ its fabric port1on coi led into a;- spiral and aving an expandingstrip in-' corporated in the spiral to cause it to unwind or open. p I v The invention also consists in the particu- V lar' manner of folding the fabric portion to itto readily assume effectiveposi-z t'ion when released-as will be hereinafter more particularly described.

Aviators Use,

portion of his head wver'ing or upon 'a skeleton helmet or 1 hereinafter more particularly.

portion rolled'or folded Fig. 13 shows 1 the] pa ranged as in- Fig. 10 after the same has been Other .features constituting my invention will be more particularly specified in the claims.

. In; the .accomp ing drawings Figu e is a front view oft e device embodying my invention as wornby an aviator.

3 is an elevation of a'form. of helmet adapted for use with my invention and showin the turban portion. ofthe device in vertical-section.

Fig. 4 is a plan 0 or carried by the aviator when it isnot' f the devices which required for actual use. Fig.5) shows in plan em loyed for securing the parachute in its'rolle and is required-to be used. I

arranged for rolling up strip or device adapte wound condition. y

to receive f the helmet portion with the turban removed.

Fig. 5 shows the parachute as expanded 7 shows the fabric portion folled and Fig. 2 is a rear view of the'apparatu's as worn. Fig

coiled condition and' -a .d 'apt-' ed to release'the same when the parachute;

Fig. 10 is a plan of the' fabric portion'as' .with an-expanding to unroll the fabric when the roll is releasedfrom its spirally Fig. 11 shows in perspective "a helmet of)".

"skeleton'fornl adapted the rolled and coiled parachute .so that the latter jmaly form a protection like that-of the solid he i Fig. 12 shows 'theskeleton helmet with the'parachute turbani, app1ied.

hut'e fabric; ar-

' rolled up.-

.14=.shows in front view another form Fig of helmet I 0r head piece'having the'parachute incorporated therewith.

Fig. 15 is a rear view of the-same. Fig. .16 shows the parachute, expanded and sup orting the'aviator.

-' Fig. 1 is a. vertical section-through the head' piece and parachute illustrated in 15. ig. 18 illustrates themanner of 'fold1ng -manner of folding shown 'in Fig. -'18.

up the parachute fabric. into the form shown in Fig. 17. Fig. 19 is a plan-view of thefabric portion after folding.

- Figs. 20, 21- and 22 illustrate modifications in the manner of folding.

Fig. 23 illustrates a modification 1n the .form, of helmet, adapted to carry a parachute folded in the manner illustrated in F i 18. q

ig, 27 is an inverted plan view of said helmet.

Fig. 28shows anotherfoimof hehnet and Fig. 29 shows the retaining means detached.

Fig. 30 is a partial vertical section. of the hehnetsho'wn' 1n Fig. 26.

' detached.

in the" form of helmet and Fig. 33 shows an- Figs. 31 and 32 show other modifications -expandin'g strip or device detached.

Fig. 34 is a' plan of the retaining means a Fig. .35 shows afurther modification in the manner of folding the fabric portion;

' Figs. 36 and 37 show a modification in the manner of carrying the parachute by the aviator. I

Fig- 38 illustrates the manner of folding up the fabric ortionof the parachute preparatory to ro ling it into the form .for car rying as illustrated in Figs. 36 and 37.

1 indicates the umbrella "or fabric portion of the parachute and 2 the supporting cords or stays joined in a belt or harness 3 various cords 2 are In the form of my invention shown in Fig 3 said helmet coversthe top of'theaviator or other device by which the aviator may. be supported as shown in Fig. 5when the umbrella or fabric portion is expanded. 'In practice and during wear of the turban the preferably assembled. and held together in assembled position by means of readily frangible bands 4 (see Fig.2) which are adapted to break on the forcible expansion of the fabric or umbrella part 1 after the parachute has been released rom vits confined condition. This permits the assembled cords to be carried. down from the'rear of the helmet or head piece to be inconspicuous in ordinary Wear. 5- indicates a helmet or headpiece adapted to be worn by the aviatorand inadeeither ofleather or of anyother suitable' -material.

the shoulders of..the wearer so that they will s head and the parachute wound into a turban surrounds the head piece and is-sup- I free ends erly. disposed to pern'lit the fabric to be rolled up into a roll suchas indicated in Fig. 7. As will be understood, the fabric should be very light and strong .to allow compactness in the roll. The roll thus formed is then wound into a spiral or volute' for further compactness and to permit the ,roll to be applied preferably as a part of the.

head covering of the aviator and as indicated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, in which condition it is carried when not required for use and secured in such condition bymeans tempo-- rarily holding it but adapted to be readily released, to. free the umbrella or fabric part and allow it to expand into operative form as illustrated in Fig. 5. Such means for securing the parachute in its turban shape may comprise, as illustrated in Fig. 9, a number of straps or hands 7 permanently 'secured at one end'to the eyes orbrac'kets 8 0n the head pice'and at their opposite or held together by means of a fas tening cord 9 threaded through openings in said free ends.

ends in such way as to permit them to be readily released, thus freeing the parachute from the restraint of the straps or bands 7; so that it may free itself from the head piece and uncoil itself and unroll so as to become effective as a support in the air.

Preferably I incorporate with the coil 9. suitable" expanding strip indicated at 10, Figs. 6 and 7. Sa1d strip may be a piece of thin elastic or spring steel or even a piece of light wood which will not unduly interfere with the winding of the roll into spiral shape but willneverthelessact to open out or uncoil the"spiral, so that the roll or fabric may unroll. The expanding strip 10, instead of beingof springy material, might be a cord or strip of elastic material like Fastening cord 9 would i ordinarily be tied or secured together at its maybe, as the case of the strip 10,'eithe'r flexible spring strips or flexible elastic strips or pieces rolled up under tension. As will be understood, the strips 10.v and ll automatically detach themselves when thet'urban or spiral opens out and unrolls. V (helmet is In Fig. 11 .the head piece or shown in skeleton form and the-parachute is rolled'and wound into a spiral or volute' fabricj'part laid out upon a suitable floor or support is folded up in segments or sectors head.

in such way as form in elfect a turban .turb'an will have a less. bulky appearance than in the "form "where' it is assembled wholl on the sides of the helmet. .To secure t e turban in osition, straps 7 may be mployd-asalrea y indicated, said straps having their free ends secured over the turwith, four spring, sockets adapte ban by means of asnap' button 12 rovided tively toreceive four studs arranged respectivelyon the endsof the'straps 7. This button may be readily removed to free the turban when occasion requires.

1- 'I do not, however, limit myself to any particular means for securing the parachute fabric in turban or coiled-form nor do I limit myself, so far as therolled and coiled parachute is concerned, to the use of [the same as a turban or head gear or cov- 1 i g- Y .Instead;-of' rolling up the fabric ortion ofthe parachute in a manner alrea y infill cated as being employed preparatory to forming it into the spiral it may be folded in zigzag fashion or into folds; like 'accordion 01 s. The foldin'gmay rogress' from edge to edge'taking in the .w ole extent of the fabric, that is to say, with the lines of fold extending clear across the same as indicated in Fig. 23' but preferablyfthe fabric is folded as indicated in Fig. 18 wherein the 'of whichthere maybe, as illustrated in this stra1ght. :dotted lines 20 and the fol proceeds, in the case of each. sector, from the figure, six "se" ents'or 'sectors.'- Theline of fold for v eac sector is, indicatedb the outer'edge of the fabric-inwardly toward the center, the supporting cords being disposed preparatory" to the folding operation upon the top of the fabriclwhen laidout;.- To conduct this operation one fold is 'formed in each segment at'a time, proceeddi ng aroundxthe periphery thereof and after "the one fold" for .each segment the operation'is re .eated until finally anassemblage of the f o dsin zigzag oraccordion complet' .form results such as'illustrated in Figs. 19,

I 20, *21',-'and 22, thedisposition' of the folds ,with relation' to one' another or the width of each fold being1 dicated in those gures. The result of the folding is "shown in plan 'in'Fig. 19.

. As will be seen, the folds ofthe segments fwil lo'verlap' at the edges of the. segments, the results of this being to keep the folds 9. art "which is desirable in order to revent tl fepacking of the fabric and ena 1e the .same to expand more regularly when occa.

sion requires. After. folding as described,

respecv'ariedfas desired and inthe parachute may be placed upon the head piece as illustrated inFi s. 21 and 22.

a turban or ead covering havin a general conical or s herical fo'rm whi c Fig. 22 7 shows the f0 d sas increasing in width to produce a headpiece or coyering of flaring shape. I

1 'As shown in Fig. 18 thesupporting cords 2 may be, disposed on the dividing lines betweenthe segments and sectors as to some .of them andas to others may be disposed or laid on-radial lines through the centers of the segments. The number of segments or sectors obviously maybe varied as adosired and the disposition of the cords therein may be also varied-so that all ofsaid cords will be disposed in the centers of the segments or may be 'diaiposed on the dividing' lines between them. fter the folding up by se ents or sectors, as described, the parac ute may be placed in a cap or helment and retained by the corresponding segmentshaped flaps 20 as indicated in said figure, said flaps being heldtogether at the, center by a cord passing through the eyelets or openings 22 (see Fig. 17) in said retaining segments-after the manner 'ofthe cord 9 =sho'wn inFig. 9. Said retaining segments 20 may 'be part of the fabric of the cap or helmet, said fabric being secured to, the frameor edge of the cap as indicated.

'- .lnstead of folding by segments in the zigzag fashion described, the folding may proceed from edge to edge of the Whole fab ric portion as indicated in Fig; 23,-thus produclng an elongated roll or fold which ma folds, referably' near the center, so that after t e coiling of the roll, said strip will be under tension which will act to uncoil the coil and place the roll of fabricin co dition in which it may readily open by action of the air .upon the zigzag or accor ion folds.

As shownin Figs. 26, 27 and 28, the helmet or head-piece may be provided at its edge :with studs 23- adapted'to receive and holdithe ends ofdetachable retaining bands .24 for holding-the folded fabric'upon the helmet 25. A space as indicated at 26 mabe provided between the helmet proper.

an an outer rim 27 for .theentranceof air which, by engaging the folded fabric, will help todetach thesame -froIn the helmet after thefabric has been freed from the re tainingbands 24. To "assist in thisaction an eX and-ingor flexible detaching elastic .piece 10 may be placed beneath the folded parachutewhenit is applied to the helmet and fastened down'by the. retaining strips.

- In Fig. 32 the parachute, after foldingof devices similar to those alread tem "orarilj' 55 expandin folds of iQ-fab so shape or releasin ing of said folded fabric into spiral or turpban form is shown as applied on the helmet or head described. 35 shows the fabricas olded up in zigzag fashion with folds of substantially v uniform widthbut wider than illustrated in Fig. 18 and so that the folded fabric may lie loosely and more .readily' conform itself to the shape of the head piece.

As illustrated in Fig. 3 the. pp g be provide belt encircling the aviator may) h h whic t e with a supportin strap 57 i parachute, after olding or ro ling in any of the ways already described, maybe sustained' on his body'until said strap is released by detachment of the fastening. button indicated at-28. In Fig. 37, 29 is a case like the case of a fieldlass supported by a folded and wound intoa spiral to form a turban-like head gear or covering combined a with an expanding strip incorporated in the I coils of the turban as. a volute, means for sustaining the spiral upon the head of the aviator and means for temporarilyholding the spiral against uncoilin'fg 2. A arachute having its abric portion folded and wound into a spiral combined with-a helmet havingmeans for tem rarily "8'5 securingsaid fabric in its folded an wound form; and means "incorporated with thefabric portion for unwindingthe spiral and opening. outthe folded-portion when the spiral is unwound.

tion' forinand,;provided. with" means for temporarily securing in pla'ce thereon the 'fahric folded vL-into turban '{form and an-"elastic strip wound into the turban as .--a volute rtion of a parachute rolled on followingjhe volute' of the; turbanas and for the purpose described. s V V 4.?Aheadpiece or helmet for aviatorfs use combined with; a parachute-"the fabrici" portion'fof 6h ,is folded and then wound 1nto .-spira for-'.';'turbfan-. 1ike*form? andis I i 'd in'such' form upon saidhea, ,piece the 'foldedfportion of said fabric having incorporated therewith an elastic strip 'arranged to follow the with fastening means forgte'm} y'holding it in turban headpiece provi; e, th means for supporting the'spiralon the. outside thereof.

iece and as retained in place by' 3. aviators headpiece made'iniskehfolded. segment by segment." mto" zigzag from the irall into as V day of January,

will and a, skeleton .ated with it suitable expanding means, said expanding means bein arrangedv as a volute incorporated in and ollowing the coils of the parachute, means for uncoiling it auto-- v maztically when released.

. A folded and coiled as described and having an expandingstrif 1 portion and isposed therein as a volute, and a helmet adapted to support the fabric portion as a turban upon the headfof the aviator as and for the purpose described.

- 8. A parachute'havmg its fabric portion folded and coiled and provided with ex panding. means incorporated .in both the folded and coiled portion thereof said expanding means being folded in to follow the parachute having. its fabric portion '70 incorporated with the coiled folds of, the fabric and being arranged in' the coils as a volute'asand for the purpose described.

9. A para'chute-havin its'f'abric portion spirally into thefolded and then woun I I form of a turban, combined with a helmet having an annular-ledge or sup ort adapted,

to receive and support the col s externally of the helmet.

tion folded up in zigzag or accordion olds 10. A parachute having its fabric rand provided with expanding means for. openingor expanding the folds, said :ex-

' panding 'means comprising a strip. folded in to follow the folds of thefabric.

' 4 11. A parachute having its-fabric per- 1 7 tion .folded in zigzag oraccordion foldsand wound, as folded, into a'spiral cor'n fbined' with an expanding device laid be tween the folds aralle'l with'the same and acting to exp-an the spiralwhen released. 12. A parachutehaving its fabric portion or -|accordion {folds iPIOGGBdb headpiece for supporting the same, a flexisg I ble elastic detaching lece interposed'between the. folded parac ute and the helmet.

fabric "ortion upon the helmet.

and -means-for-fasteningdown the folded 4 combined parachute and headpiece" for aviators, comprising a headpiece having an 'outeror false' rim separated from the :foldedand sustained hereon in positionto be engaged byia current of air passlngbe i tween theheadpieceand rim.

Signed" at INew Yorkin headpiece by an air s ace anda parachute 'j the 'count'y of New York and State of'New York, this 16th 

